Digital Logos Edition
The book of Ruth is a love story. Like all love stories it has twists and turns, tension and resolution, and a happy ending.
But it’s far more than that because it reveals to us a God who is deeply committed to caring for his people. In Boaz, God provides Ruth with a loving husband to free and provide for her, pointing us to the Bible’s grand story of redemption and David’s greatest son, Jesus.
Tony Merida’s compelling story-telling and Christ-centered insights make this both an accessible and absorbing expository guide to the book of Ruth. It can be used for personal devotions, or for leading small-group studies, or for sermon preparation.
“Second, we need to see the larger story of God’s redeeming grace” (Page 8)
“In the ancient world, there was an association between the local deity you worshiped and the place where you were buried. You had to be buried in the right place to have a restful afterlife. So being willing to die in the land of Israel was, for Ruth, a major sign of her commitment to Yahweh.” (Page 39)
“God. She believes that the Almighty’s hand has gone out against her, as if she is his enemy. So why go with her? Things could get worse!” (Page 36)
“You have to admire the transparency and candor of Naomi. She responds to this buzz with a sharp response: ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me’ (v 20). Don’t call me Sweetie Pie; call me Bitter Woman! She believes her situation demands a new name—one that reflects her frustration. ‘Mara’ means ‘bitter,’ and she insists they call her by that name.” (Page 47)
“Elimelech acted like the people of the day. He did what was right in his own eyes. The appropriate response to the famine would have been to remain in Israel, to repent, to call others to repent, and to trust God. But it seems he felt more at home in the land of compromise than the land of promise.” (Page 20)